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The global hunger crisis continues to grow at an exponential rate, even more so since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Developing countries like the Philippines struggle to stay afloat as the number of cases multiply in overpopulated and impoverished areas. With its belief that the alleviation of poverty is rooted in addressing hunger, Kusina ng Kalinga joins the crusade in the battle against this nationwide emergency. In line with the advocacy of Ateneo’s Blue Plate for Better—which was endorsed by the Lifebank Foundation—Kusina ng Kalinga’s philosophy stands on the basis that children need proper nutrition in order to pursue a proper education. The Be A Hunger Warrior campaign is supported by the charitable efforts of GK, DEPED, LGUs, partners, donors and volunteers.
The first milestone that marked Kusina ng Kalinga’s journey into service was the establishment of its very first central kitchen located in Alang-alang Central School, Leyte in 2014. The kitchen was built as a means to provide aid to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. By 2019, it expanded its efforts to over 160 locations across the archipelago, serving 100,000 meals everyday. Furthermore, Mindanao has become the leading sector with the highest number of kitchens that serve a total of 40,000 kids.
In order to best serve its primary stakeholders, the kitchens are located in areas that are predominantly populated by kids (i.e. public schools, community centers, disaster areas, and public streets). In addition, Kusina ng Kalinga mainly focuses on children who are ages 1-12 and come from low-income families. Despite the significant consequences of the pandemic, the program has taken great steps to continue its operations during the New Normal. With the help of its partner barangays and parent-volunteers, meals are safely prepared and delivered to children’s homes. In lieu of hosting in extremely crowded areas, the kitchens are open in community centers at a limited capacity. Kusina ng Kalinga has also introduced new Feeding Modes which have allowed for more convenient and safe methods in serving healthy meals to its beneficiaries. Grab & Go, for example, encourages children to bring their own food containers when visiting the kitchens. On the other hand, Lunch in a Box entails that meals be pre-packaged and sent to the child’s home. Lastly, Lunch on the Move allows volunteers to send prepared food via tricycles or vans and serve these door-to-door.
Establishing a community kitchen is no easy feat. One must primarily coordinate with the barangay and the different stakeholders, as well as submit the necessary official documents. Subsequently, setting up the kitchen requires gathering the proper equipment and tools, implementing an effective supply chain, and creating a variety of recipes that best suit the children from the chosen area. With regard to recruitment, it is mandatory for all volunteers to be healthy and display no COVID-19 related symptoms. To ensure that its members develop the necessary skills that will allow for more organized operations, Kusina ng Kalinga regularly conducts training for its volunteers. Lastly, no kitchen can be created without the collaboration of local leaders who play a vital role in identifying the beneficiaries and collecting their personal information.
It is evident to see that those involved in the program are deeply committed to ending poverty for 5 million Filipinos by 2024. Kusina ng Kalinga has gone great lengths towards solving the critical hunger crisis in the Philippines, especially in sectors that have been negatively impacted during the lockdowns and community quarantines. They implore fellow Filipinos to take action against this national emergency by dedicating their time, effort, and whole selves to the cause. As their tagline states, ‘hunger begins where caring begins.”
Wondering how YOU can help?
Sign up with this link https://gk1world.com/hungerwarrior to feed a child for 120 days. Invite your friends and family to do the same and let us all lend a helping hand to our Kapwa Pinoy!
For more updates, you may visit https://www.facebook.com/kusinangkalinga/
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